Forest insects as food: humans bite back / Proceedings of a workshop on Asia-Pacific resources and their potential for development RAP PUBLICATION 2010/02 Forest insects as food: humans bite back Proceedings of a workshop on Asia-Pacific resources and their potential for development 19-21 February 2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand Edited by Patrick B. Durst, Dennis V. Johnson, Robin N. Leslie and Kenichi Shono FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Bangkok, Thailand 2010 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. ISBN 978-92-5-106488-7 All rights reserved. FAO encourages reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Non-commercial users will be authorized free of charge. Repro- duction for resale or other commercial purposes, including educational purposes, may incur fees. Applications for permission to reproduce or disseminate FAO copyright materials and all other queries on rights and licenses, should be addressed by e-mail to [email protected] or to the Chief, Publishing Policy and Support Branch, Office of Knowledge, Exchange, Research and Extension, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. © FAO 2010 Cover design: Chanida Chavanich For copies of the report, write to: Patrick B. Durst Senior Forestry Officer FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Thailand Tel: (66-2) 697 4000 Fax: (66-2) 697 4445 E-mail: [email protected] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok, Thailand ii Foreword In this fast-paced modern world, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of valuable traditional knowledge and practices. There is a tendency to think of traditional habits and customs as outdated or primitive. Yet, experience across numerous fields has highlighted the value and benefits to be gained from combining customary knowledge and approaches with modern science and understanding. Such is the case with edible forest insects. The practice of eating insects goes back thousands of years and has been documented in nearly every part of the world. In modern times, however, consumption of insects has declined in many societies and is sometimes ridiculed as old-fashioned and unhealthy. Yet, it would be prudent to carefully consider the value of customary knowledge before discarding it too readily. Scientific analysis confirms, for example, the exceptional nutritional benefits of many forest insects, and studies point to the potential to produce insects for food with far fewer negative environmental impacts than for many mainstream foods consumed today. Aside from their nutritional and environmental benefits, experts see considerable opportunity for edible insects to provide income and jobs for rural people who capture, rear, process, transport and market insects as food. These prospects can be enhanced through promotion and adoption of modern food technology standards to ensure that the insects are safe and attractive for human consumption. Traditionally, most edible insects have been harvested from natural forests, but surprisingly little is known about the life cycles, population dynamics, commercial and management potential of most edible forest insects. Among forest managers, knowledge and appreciation of how to manage and harvest insects sustainably is limited. On the other hand, traditional forest dwellers and forest-dependent people often possess remarkable knowledge of the insects and their management, offering excellent opportunities for modern science and traditional knowledge to work together. In an effort to more fully explore the various facets of edible forest insects, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific organized an international workshop, entitled “Forest Insects as Food: Humans Bite Back” in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in February 2008. The workshop brought together many of the world’s foremost experts on entomophagy – the practice of eating insects. Specialists in the three-day workshop focused specifically on the science management, collection, harvest, processing, marketing and consumption of edible forest insects, as well as their potential to be reared commercially by local farmers. It is hoped that this publication, containing the edited proceedings of the Chiang Mai workshop, will help to raise awareness of the potential of edible forest insects as a food source, document the contribution of edible insects to rural livelihoods and highlight linkages to sustainable forest management and conservation. Hiroyuki Konuma Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Regional Representative iii Contents Foreword iii Acknowledgements vii Edible forest insects: exploring new horizons and traditional practices 1 Patrick B. Durst and Kenichi Shono The contribution of edible forest insects to human nutrition and to forest management: current status and future potential 5 Dennis V. Johnson Entomophagy and its impact on world cultures: the need for a multidisciplinary approach 23 V.B. Meyer-Rochow Forests insects as food: a global review 37 Hans G. Schabel Edible insects and other invertebrates in Australia: future prospects 65 Alan Louey Yen Review of the nutritive value of edible insects 85 Chen Xiaoming, Feng Ying and Zhang Hong Common edible wasps in Yunnan Province, China and their nutritional value 93 Feng Ying and Sun Long Teak caterpillars and other edible insects in Java 99 Dwi Retno Lukiwati Edible insects in Papua, Indonesia: from delicious snack to basic need 105 Euniche Ramandey and Henk van Mastrigt The future use of insects as human food 115 Jun Mitsuhashi Cultural and commercial roles of edible wasps in Japan 123 Kenichi Nonaka v Edible insects in a Lao market economy 131 Somkhit Boulidam Edible insects and entomophagy in Borneo 141 Arthur Y.C. Chung Philippine edible insects: a new opportunity to bridge the protein gap of resource-poor families and to manage pests 151 Candida B. Adalla and Cleofas R. Cervancia Sri Lanka as a potential gene pool of edible insects 161 M.R.M.P. Nandasena, D.M.S.K. Disanayake and L. Weeratunga Honey and non-honey foods from bees in Thailand 165 Somnuk Boongird Edible insects and associated food habits in Thailand 173 Yupa Hanboonsong Compendium of research on selected edible insects in northern Thailand 183 Paitoon Leksawasdi Edible products from eri silkworm (Samia ricini D.) and mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) in Thailand 189 Sivilai Sirimungkararat, Weerasak Saksirirat, Tussanee Nopparat and Anchalee Natongkham Edible insects in Thailand: nutritional values and health concerns 201 Jintana Yhoung-aree Filling the plates: serving insects to the public in the United States 217 David Gracer Workshop recommendations: summary 221 Appendixes Appendix 1: Internet information sources 224 Appendix 2: Taxonomy of insects and their relatives 226 Appendix 3: Insect terminology and definitions 227 Appendix 4: Workshop participants 228 vi Acknowledgements A great many individuals contributed to the successful convening of the workshop on edible forest insects in Chiang Mai, related media coverage and the subsequent production of this publication. The Chiang Mai workshop was greatly enhanced by the outstanding local support from the Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) of Chiang Mai University, which served as local organizer. FAO is especially appreciative of Dr Stephen Elliot, Dr Suthathorn Chairuangsri, Tidarat Toktaeng Chupraphatthasri, Jenny Schabel, Sudarat Sangkum and Dutsadee Nilubol, of the FORRU staff, for their exceptional efforts in supporting the workshop. Working as a consultant to FAO, Dr Dennis Johnson prepared a highly insightful desk study that established the foundation for the workshop and subsequent work related to edible forest insects. Dr Johnson also provided key organizational support leading up to, and during, the workshop. The organizers are grateful to all of the facilitators and presenters who contributed their knowledge and expertise during the workshop, and indeed to all of the participants for generously sharing their perspectives and insights. Special acknowledgement is due to Professor Hans Schabel, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, for his participation and presentation of the keynote address. The field visits to the Siam Insect Zoo, Supha Bee Farm and local cricket farmers provided workshop participants with fascinating insights into various aspects related to edible insects. The warm hospitality and openness of Dr Pisuth Ek-Amnuay and Mr Suttha Ek-Amnuay (founder and director, respectively, of the Siam Insect Zoo), Khun Somboon-SupaYawiloet and Khun Suwarattana Yawiloet (founder and manager, respectively, of the Supha Bee Farm) and Khun Pinit Mittakang (local cricket farmer) were much appreciated. Few topics addressed by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in recent years have generated as much media attention and interest as that related to edible forest insects. Ms Alison Small (Liaison/Information Officer with FAO’s Communication Division in Rome) and Mr Diderik de Vleeschauwer (Regional Information Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific) have graciously facilitated scores of media contacts and interviews. Their efforts